Switch to Spouse Visa UK (5-Year Route)

You might be able to switch to a Spouse visa under a 5-year route if you came to the UK on a different visa and married a British or settled person in the UK. You can switch to a Spouse visa if your partner is a British citizen or has, Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), pre-settled status or settled status in the UK.

You can switch to a Spouse visa at any time from inside the UK before your current permission to stay in the UK expires. You must meet all the eligibility requirements of the Immigration Rules.

If you need assistance with your Spouse visa application, Spouse visa extension or want to switch from a Fiancé(e) visa to a Spouse visa, our solicitors can help. Contact us today to get legal assistance for any type of Spouse visa or Family visa application.

Table of Contents

1. Switching from a UK fiancé visa to a spouse visa
2. Switch from a 10-year route to a 5-year route
3. What is a Spouse visa UK (5-year route)?
4. Applying for a Spouse visa UK online
5. UK spouse visa application form
6. Requirements for switching to a Spouse visa UK (5-year route)
7. Documents required for switching to Spouse visa UK (5-year route)
8. Can you switch to a Spouse visa under 5-year route?
9. UK spouse visa processing time
10. UK Spouse visa refusal & appeal
11. UK Spouse visa fees
12. Spouse visa solicitors
13. Spouse visa solicitor fee
14. Need legal advice & assistance?

Switching from a UK fiancé visa to a spouse visa

You can switch from a fiancé or fiancée visa to a UK Spouse visa before the expiry of your Fiancé(e) visa if you meet all the eligibility requirements for a Spouse visa. Applicants can apply 28 days before the expiry of the Fiancé(e) visa.

Switch from a 10-year route to a 5-year route

You can switch to a UK Spouse visa 5-year route if have leave to remain as a spouse under the 10-year route and you meet all the requirements of Appendix FM.

If you do switch to the Spouse visa 5-year route from the 10-year route, then any time spent on the 10-year route will not count towards your ILR application.

Most of the time, the applicants who cannot meet the English language requirement or financial requirement of earning £29,000 gross per year would apply for switching to a Spouse visa 10-year route.

What is a Spouse visa UK (5-year route)?

A Spouse visa UK, also known as a ‘Marriage visa’ or ‘Partner visa’ is a route to the settlement that allows you to permanently join and live with your partner in the UK.

It means you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a Spouse after spending 5 years on a spouse visa.

Applying for a Spouse visa UK online

You can apply for a UK Spouse visa under a 5-year route online or get expert legal advice or assistance for your Spouse visa application from our UK immigration solicitors in London.

The steps for a UK Spouse visa application are as follows:

• Assess your eligibility for a Spouse visa application (if not sure, our immigration solicitors can help);
• Complete and submit the Spouse visa application form online;
• Pay the Spouse visa application fee;
• Pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS);
• Upload documents in support of a Spouse visa application;
• Book and attend a biometric appointment.

UK spouse visa application form

By using the FLR(M) form online, an applicant can switch to a Spouse visa 5-year route from inside the UK. Our Spouse visa solicitors can provide legal help with the completion of your Spouse visa application.

Requirements for switching to a Spouse visa UK (5-year route)

The main requirements for a UK Spouse visa under 5-year route application are as follows: 

• Both, you and your partner must be 18 or over;
• You need to prove that your relationship is genuine and you intend to live together permanently in the UK;
• You need to meet the financial requirements to prove that you can support your family without seeking public funds;
• You must meet the requirement of adequate accommodation;
• You must satisfy the English language requirements to prove your knowledge of the English language.

You must meet all other requirements depending on your circumstances. Feel free to ask a question to our expert immigration solicitor regarding a Spouse visa application.

Financial requirement for switching to a Spouse visa

To meet the financial requirements of a UK Spouse visa 5-year route application, you and your partner must have a combined income of at least £29,000 gross per year. You need to meet this income threshold requirement if you want to settle in the UK within 5 years.

You may be able to use your cash savings instead of income.

English language test requirement

You may need to meet the English language requirement for the UK Spouse visa application if you are from a non-English-speaking country. You may be exempt from taking or passing the English language test.

You can prove your knowledge of the English language with an academic qualification, or by passing an approved English language test.

A1 English test for Spouse visa

For your first visa application, you must pass at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

Documents required for switching to Spouse visa UK (5-year route)

Below is a general list of documents required for a UK Spouse visa application:

• Valid current passport;
• Proof that your relationship is genuine;
• Evidence of meeting the financial requirements;
• Evidence of meeting the adequate accommodation requirement;
• Proof of meeting the English language requirement;
• Details of any criminal convictions.

You may need to provide additional supporting documents depending on your circumstances.

Can you switch to a Spouse visa under 5-year route?

You can switch to a UK Spouse visa 5-year route if you have a leave to remain in the UK which was originally granted for a period of more than 6 months, and you are married to:

• a British citizen; or
• a person with ILR; or
• a person with refugee status; or
• as a person with humanitarian protection.

You can apply to switch to a Spouse visa from inside the UK if you meet all the eligibility requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Below is a list of some of the most common visas you can switch to a Spouse visa:

• Fiancé(e) Visa UK
• Skilled Worker visa (or Tier 2 work visas)
• ICT visa
• Student visa
• Graduate visa
• Temporary Work visas
• Spouse visa 10-year route to 5-year route

UK spouse visa processing time 2024

You will get a decision within 8 weeks if you are switching to a Spouse visa 5-year route from inside the UK. Spouse visa application processing time starts from the date of your appointment at the visa application centre.

UK Spouse visa refusal & appeal

If your UK spouse visa application has been refused and you think the spouse visa refusal is unlawful, then you may be able to appeal against the decision.

Book an appointment with our immigration solicitors to discuss the spouse visa refusal letter, appeal process, costs involved and the appeal processing time.

Reasons for spouse visa refusal

Your UK Spouse visa application can be refused for several reasons but the most common reasons for UK Spouse visa refusals are as listed below:

• Failed to meet the minimum income requirements of Spouse visa application.
• Failed to prove that your relationship is genuine and subsisting.
• Failed to meet the English language requirement.
• Made a mistake on a Spouse visa application form or used the wrong form.
• Missing or incorrect supporting documents or submitted false documents.
• Failed to disclose past criminal convictions in your application.

There are high chances of getting a visa refusal if you are not fully aware of relevant immigration law(s) and eligibility criteria. You should get legal advice from experienced immigration solicitors to boost your chances of success.

UK Spouse visa fees

The fee for a UK spouse visa application is £1,538 if you are applying from outside the UK and £1,048 for inside applications. It does not include Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS).

How much is the health surcharge for a spouse visa?

You might need to pay a healthcare surcharge (called the 'immigration health surcharge' or IHS) as part of your immigration application. Click here to find out the latest Family visa fees and Healthcare surcharges.

Spouse visa solicitors

Spouse visa solicitor fee

Our fixed-fee Spouse visa solicitors charge a fixed fee in the region of £800 to £1000 (excluding VAT) for complete legal services in relation to the UK Spouse visa (5-year route) application.